Chapter 16: It's Not Over Yet

When Snape arrived back at his quarters he hit his desk with brutal force, making the picture of Lucy there shake. He sat down and glowered at the test papers: his life had officially hit an all time low. If Lockhart couldn't find Lucy he'd ensure he made his life the ultimate hell. Then, he'd tear the whole castle apart looking for the entrance to the chamber and wouldn't rest until he found Lucy.

He placed both hands upon the top of his desk and started to sniff. His eyes burnt with anger and slowly but gradually a tear slid down his face. He slashed it off in annoyance just as a knock came at the door.

"Go away!" He barked, not in the mood for anything much.

"Snivels, if you don't open this door I'll just go to the chamber myself." It was a girls voice and it took Snape a moment to register the stupid nickname.

He left his desk and opened the door.

There stood Shona, she wore her normal clothes and had a small backpack draped across her shoulder. She held her wand securely in her hand and there was no expression on her face as the demon teacher spoke to her.

"You're lying to me to lure me out of here so you can pull another practical joke, aren't you?" He glowered at her but a big part of him wanted Shona's claim so desperately to be true.

Shona stared him down. "No, I've come to prove I'm not the idiot you think I am. Not only that but I fell a little sorry for you; Lucy is all you have and I thought maybe you'd want to help me save her."

Snape uncrossed his arms. It felt strange to have someone he'd belittled try and help him, he was certain there was a catch. It took him a moment to realise that perhaps there wasn't and this was in fact kindness on Shona's part.

Shona noticed that his face had softened. "It's settled then — onwards and upwards to the ladies lavatory!"

This made the foul expression return to Snape's face. "This certainly is a joke."

"Certainly not," she imitated. "Now come on, otherwise I'm leaving you to sulk in the dungeons."

Shona began to walk away, Snape watched her go. He then growled, made sure he was in possession of his wand before following her lead.

Shona hoped what she was doing was going to help Snape; not that she wanted to admit it.

When they arrived at the lavatory door Shona turned to Snape with a smirk. "Bet you don't come in here often, Snivels boy," she remarked as she pushed open the door.

Snape ignored her words as he followed her in. "How are you certain that this is the entrance? Of all places surely not here."

"Before Hermione was Petrified she had a note in her hand about a Basilisk and where it chills out when it's not out to stun. Harry and Ron asked me to be here so I guess we're all going together."

"But why — ?"

"Shh, let's look for the entrance," Shona began poking around as Snape stood there awkwardly. He could only imagine one of the female Professor's patrolling and finding him standing there and the look on their face. He cringed inwardly and prayed that he wouldn't get caught.

"Hey, this place may be practically abandoned but it's not half bad!" Shona announced as she leant on a nearby sink. A tap burst and vile water gushed into her face, Snape secretly smiled at her misfortune.

"Oh really?"

"Well maybe not so great then. But on the bright side I just got a free, decent shower. Cold — but refreshing! You've got to love Hogwarts," she joked.

Suddenly the door flew open and in ran Ron, Lockhart and Harry. Shona pushed Snape into a nearby lavatory and made a sign to keep quiet. He looked through a crack in the door and listened intensely.

"Brought the stuff?" Ron asked.

"All here," Shona replied, patting her bag.

"Good, could do with a master duelist!" Harry said as he noticed Shona.

"Ah, Miss McGuire! What a pleasant surprise to see you again," Lockhart smiled timidly.

"Shut up, Lockhart, or I'll give you a knuckle sandwich!" She held up her fist in demonstration.

"Oh really what flavour?"

"Blood flavour," Shona added sourly.

After about five minutes of the three moving around the chamber (Snape could only partially see what they were doing) the chamber entrance had been opened. Snape was straining his eyes as he continued to peer out of the crack but he did get a good glimpse of Lockhart being pushed by Ron and Harry. Once they heard Lockhart land they too followed.

Snape opened the door to find Shona peering down into the darkness of the entrance.

"Ladies first," he said quietly.

Shona shouted in delight as she disappeared into the gloomy darkness. Now or never, thought Snape as he jumped feet first into the hole. His body collided with concrete and he began to slide down before he landed in a pool of skeletons. He looked at the others, had they spotted him? No, they were too busy talking to Lockhart who'd lashed out on them and stole their wands. He was now aiming Ron's wand at Harry's head.

"Time to say goodbye to your memories, Potter."

"Fake!" Shona shouted and pointed a menacing finger at him. "You're not a hero at all, you've just been wiping other wizards minds, you coward!"

"It seems like McGuire wants to be first. That can most certainly be arranged." He aimed his wand at Shona but was quickly punched in the chest. Lockhart was quick to react and threw Shona away quickly. Shona got back on her feet but Lockhart was there, the wand aimed at her face and the teachers eyes looming between the kids.

"Goodbye..."

"Expelliarmus!" Snape roared at Lockhart. He was struck in the back and caught by total surprise, causing Ron's wand to backfire onto himself. He pelted into the wall and laid still.

"Did you really have to hit him? Ron's wand could have been enough!" Shona finally turned to Snape.

Snape shrugged. "I couldn't resist."

"Snape!" Harry gasped at the sudden extra company.

"I bet you feel right at home here, Snape," Shona added to him.

"Nice one!" Ron laughed. Shona winked at Snape; she definitely enjoyed that joke.

"I've come to save Lucy," Snape finally addressed Harry's shocked face. Then he turned in Lockhart's direction, he was moving.

"Good evening! Or is it morning?" Lockhart smiled. He got up in a daze and advanced towards Ron. "How are you? What's your name? Come to think of it, who am I?"

"You're David Hasselhoff!" Shona butted in. She got a look from Snape and the other children, not picking up on the muggle reference. But Lockhart seemed overjoyed with his name.

"Oh lovely! Do tell, am I famous?"

"Oh yes! You run around in red shorts, you also judge a talent show and you have a really awesome car!"

"Oh! Thank you, my girl! You can have the car if you want! Wait, what's a car?" He questioned. But before Shona could joke around there was a terrible roar and the rocks began to fall above them. They smashed to the ground around them.

"Run for it!" Yelled Harry over the rumble and they all began to run into the cavern in front of them, the sound was deafening and Harry was finding it hard to see as a tonne of boulders formed. Separating him from his friends.

"Ron! Ron!" He shouted in desperation.

"Harry?" Came a voice from under the rubble. He saw a hand reach out and out popped a gasping Shona. "Give me a hand," she choked, Harry was buffered by all the rubble, and saw Shona had lost the bag. Suddenly he heard another voice.

"Harry! it's Ron! I'm stuck here with Lockhart!" Said a panicky voice.

"I thought my name was David Hasselhoff!" Cried another voice.

"Don't mess with the Hoff!" Shona shouted to Lockhart.

"That sounds awesome!" Replied Lockhart happily.

"Wait, where's Snape? Is he there with you Ron?"

"No."

"I'm here," replied a dark voice. Snape like the others, was covered in dirt and they all stunk of animals and corpses. "We best set off — where's Weasley?"

"Behind a lot of rocks, bit like one of your dreams probably"

"McGuire!"

"What? There must be some truth in that!" But all she got was a whack on the head from Snape.

"Since we're not in lessons I guess I can do that," Snape roared back. "Now let's go, we need to find Lucy."

They left Ron and a very confused Lockhart after telling them where they were going. Snape was so close now but they had no sense of time and Snape noticed that it began to look more like a sewer than a cave. In fact they were walking in a massive sewer. They all stunk of sweat and other substances as they approached a massive circular door. It was covered in bronze snakes and it was outlined with gold and silver.

"We're stuck," Harry remarked.

"No we can't be!" Snape had lost it now. He ran to it and started to cast spells. But they bounced away, nearly hitting the students.

"Alohamora!" He yelled. "Alohamora! Alohamora!" Snape had come too far to give up now. He started to hit it, like it would hurt it, make it angry or somehow open.

"Lucy! Can you hear me! LUCY!" Snape could feel the tears in his eyes well up. "I'm here Lucy!" His voice echoed through the tunnel, so loud no doubt Ron and Lockhart could hear. "Please — Lucy!"

Before he could cause himself any more harm he was pulled away by Shona, Snape was pulled back away from the seal, staggering backwards. He tried to flick her off but she was too strong. Shona only let go after Snape was a safe distance away. He collapsed by a rubble wall and panted hardly. He just stared at the snakes on the massive door as if it would cause it to open. Snape looked hopeless and Harry stayed politely quiet but couldn't help but feel very insecure.

That was it, Snape thought. No getting Lucy back, no more company in his dungeons, and certainly no more parenting. He felt a lump in his throat and a dense feeling in his chest as the minutes went by. They all just stood there, until Shona broke the silence.

"It's not the end," she was acting just like when Snape was at Worthing. Like a mature woman.

"What?" Harry asked confused. But there was no stopping Shona now.

"Don't you see? Maybe you could use parseltounge to open the chamber."

"I'll try," Harry said. Snape perked up at the words. "What do I say?"

"How about: please open up before my Potions Master loses it?" Shona offered

Snape watched as Harry magically opened the door. Snape felt his heart skip a beat.

"Quick!" Harry ran through the seal leaving Snape and Shona alone. Shona approached him carefully.

"It's not over yet," Shona told him.

"I know," Snape said as though he was in a daydream.

"Come on, let's go save your daughter," Shona said as she held out her hand. He took it and got himself up and they both walked through the hole.